Robotic Surgery in India

Centre for Robotic Surgery – A best urology hospital in India, completed more than 700 robot-assisted surgeries till December 2015, in a span of just 5 years since its inception.

Centre for Robotic Surgery (CRS) is a special arm of the famous Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, created specifically for performing Robotic Surgery in India. Robot-assisted surgery is an innovative and breakthrough surgical technique being increasingly used in leading hospitals across the world due to its effectiveness, minimally invasive approach, and several other benefits over traditional laparoscopic and open surgeries.

At Centre for Robotic Surgery a super specialty initiative of Muljibhai Patel Urology Hospital, we use da Vinci Si® surgical system instruments for surgeries related to Nephro-Urology. We generally receive the comments that how will the surgery be made? Will there be a doctor available or only robots will perform the surgeries? Well, this article is written to clear those confusions. Let’s observe the picture given in fig (A).

* Figure A:Da Vinci Si® surgical instrument

In laparoscopic surgeries, several incisions are made and small camera and other instruments are inserted through them. This camera is connected with the visual output unit where robotic surgeons can see inside view of the patients’ body.

In robotic surgery, the surgical instruments are hooked up to the machine, and robotic surgeon sits at one console to operate them. Here high definition 3-D camera is inserted in patient’s body and the 3D display is shown on the screen. We call this entire setup as Robot. Here actual surgery is performed by doctors, but through mechanical arms. In the above image, you can see

Surgeon’s Console – Surgeon sits here and operates robots. This console also has the video output from where robotic surgeon can view the inner part of patient’s body.

Image Processing Equipment – It’s a video output to see the ongoing surgery to anesthesiologist, other doctors and nurse.

Endowrist Instruments – They are the human wrist like instruments to provide superior motion control, precision and fluid ambidexterity.

Surgical Arm Cart – They are robotic hands acts like human arms

Hi-Resolution 3-D Endoscope – It has high definition 3-D camera at its end which is inserted in to patient’s body through separate incision.

Now it’s an obvious question that what are the advantages of doing so?

* Figure B:High Definition 3D Vision with Zooming

Above is the video snippet from Dr. Mahesh Desai who is current president of Endourology Society and Medical Director at Muljibhai Patel Urology Hospital, Nadiad.

Benefits of Robotic Surgery

Advantages of robotic surgeries are:

High Definition 3-D Vision: You are able to see target organ with much more clarity. The Zoom option shows the picture bigger and 3-D vision shows the depth.

Greater Precision: In laparoscopy, after long time the robotic surgeon usually gets tired. This effect in tremors in his / her hands. Robotic arms solve this issue. It enables 360 degree moment which is not possible by human hand.

Quick Recovery: It requires very small incisions to operate through robots. Which is not the case with open surgery? This helps in fewer traumas, less pain and less loss of blood. Ultimately it results in to faster recovery.

Our Robotic Surgery Services

Centre for Robotic Surgery – A best best urology hospital in India specialises in robot-assisted surgeries related to prostate cancer, bladder cancer, pediatric cancer, and kidney cancer problems. Our robotic surgeons also experts in pediatric urological procedures using robotic surgery, and we have a special wing dedicated to our young patients.

Centre for Robotic Surgery is one of the few hospitals in India equipped with the state-of-the-art da vinci robotic surgical system, and the following robotic surgeries are performed at our centre:

Robotic Surgery: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a ‘traditional open surgery’?

An open or traditional surgery is done by making an incision, which is often quite large, at the surgery site. Due to the big size of such as incision many complications may arise such as blood loss, pain, scarring, post-surgery infections, prolonged healing time, etc. The duration of hospital stay after an open surgery is also much longer, and the patient’s recovery is quite slow.

What is a robotic-assisted or robotic surgery?

This type of surgery is performed by a skilled surgeon who uses a surgical robot in an operating-room. The robotic surgical system provides various advantages to the surgeon who is able to perform better surgery than is otherwise possible.

How does a robotic surgery work?

There are three main parts of a robotic surgical system: The surgeon’s console, the patient cart, and the surgical robot itself, all of which are present in the operation theatre. The surgeon sits at the console and controls the precision-guided robotic arms holding various miniaturized instruments which are inserted through keyhole-sized incisions in the patient. A small video camera is inserted into the body through another hole and which provides the surgeon with a high definition 3-D image of the operating site. The surgeon views this image and moves the robotic arms to conduct the operation.

Is the surgery performed by the robot?

No, the robotic surgery is actually ‘robot-assisted’ wherein the actual procedure is performed by the robotic surgeon, but with the help of a robotic system. Therefore, the human expertise and insights are still there which are further enhanced with the help of robotic technology.

What are the benefits of robotic surgery over traditional open surgery?

Benefits of robotic surgery include a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal daily activities.

Are robotic surgeries common?

Robotic surgeries have become quite common nowadays, and robotic surgical systems are being used in surgery at hundreds of leading hospitals globally including in countries like India, the United States, Canada, France, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, Turkey, etc.

Are there any risks associated with robotic surgeries?

Just like any other major surgery including open surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia, there is a certain amount of risk involved in robotic surgery as well. To understand the specific risks associated with the type of your robotic surgery, talk to your doctor who can share complete details of the possible risks.

Can anyone opt for robotic surgery?

No, not every patient is a suitable candidate for robotic surgery. Your doctor will assess your medical condition, overall health, and some other factors before identifying the best course of treatment for your issue, and will recommend robotic surgery only if ideal.

Which robotic surgical system is used at CRS?

Centre for Robotic Surgery – A best urology hospital in India, uses the state-of-the-art da vinci robotic surgical system , approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) and used by some of the leading hospitals in the world.

Why should I choose Centre for Robotic Surgery?

One of the pioneers of robotic surgery in India, Centre for Robotic Surgery is an initiative of Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital (MPUH)- India’s leading hospital dedicated completely to urology and nephrology.

Since its inception in 2010, CRS has performed over 750 highly successful robotic surgeries under the able leadership of world renowned Dr. Mahesh Desai. The hospital has an ultra-modern infrastructure including the state-of-the-art da Vinci Surgical System, which ensures our patients get world-class care at affordable costs.